Snow Shovel

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a snow shovel having a handle attached to a blade. One side of the blade can shovel snow, and the opposing side can plow snow as it has an attached secondary blade. The blade may also absorb impact energy through a flexible absorbing material in the blade.

BACKGROUND

The various exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a snow shovel, and more particularly to a snow shovel having an impact absorbing means and a dual-sided blade.

Typical snow shovels are made of a plastic or metal blade attached to a handle. The handle is pushed on by an individual to move the blade into the snow to lift the snow out of the way.

An individual can be injured or a snow shovel blade can be damaged if a solid object hidden by snow is struck by the blade. As the blade strikes the hidden object, the snow shovel may abruptly and unexpectedly stop, break, or both. The hidden object may also be a great amount of snow. As the shovel's forward momentum stops, an individual pushing the shovel may not stop as quickly and run into the shovel and impale himself on the handle of the shovel.

Further, typical snow shovels are designed for either scooping and lifting snow, or for plowing snow out of the way. Typical snow shovels do not both scoop and plow.

Thus, what is desired is a snow shovel that can more readily absorb impact of striking objects and a snow shovel that can scoop, lift and plow snow.

SUMMARY

The various exemplary embodiments of the present invention include a device for shoveling and plowing snow, comprising a handle and a blade attached to the handle by a fastening means. The blade comprises a top section, a bottom section, and an absorbing means. The absorbing means separates the top section and the bottom section and is comprised of material more flexible than the top section and bottom section.

The various exemplary embodiments of the present invention also include a device for shoveling and plowing snow, comprising a handle and a blade attached to the handle by a fastening means. The blade comprises a top section, a bottom section, and a secondary blade attached to the back side of the blade. The secondary blade is at an angle of at least about 15° relative to the top section of the blade

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, which will become more apparent as the description proceeds, are described in the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a front side of a shovel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of front side of a shovel according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is another illustration of a front side shovel according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a back side shovel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is another illustration of a back side shovel according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One of the various exemplary embodiments of the present invention is represented in FIG. 1, in which a snow shovel 100 comprises a handle 110 attached to a blade 120. The handle attaches to the blade by any of known attaching means, such as, for example, one or more fasteners, one or more bolts, adhesive, one or more screws, or a combination thereof.

The blade 120 may be comprised of metal or plastic. The blade comprises a front side 122, a back side 124, and a front leading edge 126. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the handle attaches to the back side of the blade.

According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the blade may further comprise a top section 132, a bottom section 134 and an absorbing means 130. The top section and the bottom section are preferably comprised of a typical metal or plastic material known to provide strength and durability for shoveling and/or plowing snow. The top section and the bottom section may be comprised of different or substantially identical materials.

The absorbing means, however, comprises a material more flexible than the top section and the bottom section 134 of the blade 120. By having the absorbing means comprise a material more flexible than the top section or the bottom section of the blade, the blade can more readily take up and disperse the energy imparted when the blade comes into contact with a solid object, including, snow. For example, the absorbing means may comprise of a flexible plastic, rubber, foam, or gel.

In FIG. 2, another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. In FIG. 2, a snow shovel 100 comprises a handle 110 attached to a blade 120. The blade comprises a front side 122, a back side 124, and a front leading edge 126. In FIG. 2, the handle attaches to the back side of the blade.

The blade of the exemplary embodiment may further comprise a top section 132, a bottom section 134 and an absorbing means 130.

The exemplary embodiment represented in FIG. 2 further comprises a secondary blade 140 attached to the back side 124 of the blade 120. The secondary blade preferably rests at an angle of about 15° or greater from the top section of the blade. The secondary blade may comprise the same material or different material as the top section or the bottom section of the blade.

The secondary blade may be attached to the top section or the bottom section of the blade. The secondary blade is preferably attached to the top section of the blade. Further, the secondary blade and the top section of the blade may be a single continuous material, such as, for example, an injection molded plastic.

The secondary blade allows the snow shovel to be turned over, that is, the back side 124 of the blade 120 faces upward, and used to plow the snow. The secondary blade assists in keeping the plowed snow from flowing over top section of the blade and thereby falling back over into the path just plowed.

In FIG. 3, a snow shovel 100 comprising a handle 110 and blade 120 is shown. The blade comprises a front side 122, a back side 124 and a front leading edge 126. The blade further comprises a secondary blade 140 on the back side of the blade.

FIG. 4 illustrates a snow shovel 100 from the back side 124 of the blade. The shovel is being pushed in the direction 150 towards the front side of the shovel. The handle 110 attaches to the blade 120 on the back side of the blade. The blade comprises a front side 122 and a front leading edge 126. A secondary blade 140 is clearly evident on the back side of the blade. The secondary blade 140 is shown as a substantially straight piece of material jutting out from the blade 120.

In FIG. 5, an embodiment similar to that shown in FIG. 4 is represented. However, in FIG. 4, the snow shovel is being pushed in a direction 150 towards the front side of the blade. In FIG. 5, the snow shovel is essentially flipped over such that the snow shovel becomes a snow plow as it is being pushed in a direction 160 towards the back side of the blade.

The exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 includes a snow shovel 100 from the back side 124 of the blade. The shovel is being pushed in the direction 160. The handle 110 attaches to the blade 120 on the back side of the blade. The blade comprises a front side 122 and a front leading edge 126. A secondary blade 140 is clearly evident on the back side of the blade. The secondary blade 140 is shown as a substantially straight piece of material jutting out from the blade 120.

The secondary blade may be a straight piece of material as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The blade can also be curved or “v” shaped, for example. Such an example is shown in FIG. 6, wherein a snow shovel 100 comprises a handle 110 attached to a blade 120 on the back side 124 of the blade. The blade comprises a front side 122 and a front leading edge 126. A v-shaped secondary blade 142 is clearly evident on the back side of the blade. Such a secondary blade more readily pushes snow off to the sides of the snow shovel when it is essentially flipped over and used as a plow.

The blade of the various exemplary embodiments may further comprise laterally spaced reinforcement ribs to increase the strength of the snow shovel.

While this invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the invention as set forth above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A device for shoveling and plowing snow, comprising: a handle; and a blade attached to the handle by a fastening means, wherein the blade comprises: a top section; a bottom section; and an absorbing means, wherein the absorbing means separates the top section and the bottom section and is comprised of material more flexible than the top section and bottom section.
 2. The device for shoveling and plowing snow according to claim 1, further comprising a secondary blade attached to the back side of the blade, such that the secondary blade is at an angle of at least about 15° relative to the top section of the blade.
 3. The device for shoveling and plowing snow according to claim 2, wherein the secondary blade is substantially straight.
 4. The device for shoveling and plowing snow according to claim 2, wherein the secondary blade is v-shaped.
 5. The device for shoveling and plowing snow according to claim 2, wherein the secondary blade is curved.
 6. The device for shoveling and plowing snow according to claim 1, further comprising laterally spaced reinforcement ribs in blade.
 7. The device for shoveling and plowing snow according to claim 1, wherein the handle is attached to a back side of the blade.
 8. A device for shoveling and plowing snow, comprising: a handle; and a blade attached to the handle by a fastening means, wherein the blade comprises: a top section; a bottom section; and a secondary blade attached to the back side of the blade, such that the secondary blade is at an angle of at least about 15° relative to the top section of the blade.
 9. The device for shoveling and plowing snow according to claim 8, wherein the secondary blade is substantially straight.
 10. The device for shoveling and plowing snow according to claim 8, wherein the secondary blade is v-shaped.
 11. The device for shoveling and plowing snow according to claim 8, wherein the secondary blade is curved.
 12. The device for shoveling and plowing snow according to claim 8, further comprising laterally spaced reinforcement ribs in blade.
 13. The device for shoveling and plowing snow according to claim 8, wherein the handle is attached to a back side of the blade. 